TOO MUCH SECRECY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 227, 24 September 1943, Page 6

TOO MUCH SECRECY

PARTIES CRITICISED After criticising the abuse of Government by the party system, StaffSergeant H. M. Bagnall, Independent Group candidate for Auckland West, at Heme Bay, said he regretted that while the country was at war political parties should be fighting a campaign on promises and domestic matters which had no real bearing on the position to-day. Outside the war itself the real questions to be considered were the future war commitments of the country, manpower, goods and services. The people should be told whether it was intended to transfer more people from non-essential to essential work, and whether there was to be more rationing of commodities.

"If the Government is not prepared to take you into its confidence on matters which are of the greatest importance to you, then it has no right to ask for your support," said the candidate. "The future of this country is dependent on when the war will end. It is dependent on the world plan of reconstruction after 'the war and all the promises that the party men are making are only clouding the issue, for they know that the future is dependent on how the peace is constructed." New Zealand's future was bound up with her immediate war commitments and how she carried them out would decide her place in the world to be created after victory was won, he added. What place New Zealand would be expected to take in the future was a matter we should be advised on now. If more effort was required of the people, they would give it. New Zealand's war effort was the effort of the whole of the people and not the Government's or that of any particular party or section. A SMART RETORT A quick retort to a persistent interrupter was made by LieutColonel W. H. Fortune, National candidate for Eden, when speaking in the Astor Theatre last night. He reminded the audience that he was formerly a teacher, and the interrupter said: "You should be teaching now." Perhaps I should, and then I might give you some instruction," replied the candidate amid laughter and applause.